THE LAST LINE
Praise for The Last Line:
“Buy a ticket and see this show! This book is a welcome whodunnit for theater-loving mystery readers.”
—Abigail Strom, RITA Award-winning author of Tell Me
“A mystery starring a neurodiverse lead set in the world of theater? I was all in from page one!”
—Harper Kincaid, author of the Bookbinding Mystery series
“Ellie is relatable and real, and by the time you finish The Last Line, she’ll feel like your new best friend. I haven’t been this excited by a new author in a long time.”
—Leslie Lutz, author of Fractured Tide
“Scott Lyerly’s highly original debut, The Last Line, features theatre predicaments and sinister secrets. An exciting recipe for a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery… Thoroughly engaging!”
—Suzanne Trauth, author of the Dodie O’Dell mystery series
“Scott Lyerly’s The Last Line features a diverse cast of characters caught up in the drama inherent in the production of a play, especially one where the lead actor dies on stage. Mystery lovers will enjoy the plethora of viable suspects, motives, and clues, while theatre aficionados will appreciate the detailed depiction of a small regional theater company… The Last Line should please a wide variety of readers.”
—Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library, Booklover’s B&B, and Hunter and Clewe mystery series
Coming July 23rd, 2024!
ABOUT THE LAST LINE
Ellie Marlowe, a neurodiverse small-town theater owner with Tourette syndrome, is delighted when her latest production sells out. But when the male lead drops dead – and everyone in the cast seems to be a potential suspect or next victim – she must help catch a killer before they pull another show-stopping murder.
The new production at Ellie Marlowe’s community theater could save her from financial ruin, but her overbearing lead, Reginald Thornton IV, is determined to antagonize every cast member. Nervous and with her Tourette’s syndrome flaring, Ellie is relieved when opening night seems to be going well – but then Reginald’s death scene turns out to be all too real.
The state police write the death off as a heart attack, but several things that don’t add up – and Ellie and her childhood friend, Bill Starlin, the local chief of police, begin investigating. When another person linked to the theater is attacked, they’re convinced a killer is on the loose.
As Ellie and Bill discover connections between cast members, they uncover dark secrets and must race to find the killer before it’s curtains for someone else.
Scott Lyerly 